Thus far we’ve looked at both Pacific Coast League American Northern and Southern divisions. Now we move to the Pacific Northern Division. Here, you won’t find the high-impact, future All-Star caliber prospects you saw in the first two divisions. At least not right now. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t players who can find productive roles in the majors. Future bullpen roles and utility players highlight these rosters.
Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle Mariners)
The big league roster is stacked in Seattle, and the cream of the crop on the Mariners’ farm is in the lower levels of the minors. Thus, Tacoma is a place of continued growth, not of final touch ups.
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Shortstop Ketel Marte and third/first baseman Pat Kivlehan would be knocking on the door of most other clubhouses, but Marte is stuck behind Brad Miller, Willie Bloomquist and Robinson Cano, while Kivlehan is blocked by Kyle Seager and Logan Morrison. Marte is turning into a future leadoff catalyst; his batting average has risen each of the last two seasons, from .249 in 2013 to .304 in 2014; he doesn’t strike out often (12.5 percent of plate appearances); and has the speed to steal 20 bases a season. Defensively, he’s more likely to find a home on the right side of second base, leaving him trapped by the unerringly productive Cano. Kivlehan’s BABIP dropped nearly 40 points to .335, yet he still hit .295 with 20 home runs last season and is a career .299/.366/.491 hitter. Look for both to be productive utility players in the coming months and years.
The Mariners also have a future defensive-minded catcher in Tacoma. John Hicks rebounded from a poor 2013, where his OBP fell to .301, to hit .290/.351 in 2014. If he continues his current production, he will be a solid defensive backup who won’t be offensive dead weight.
Sacramento River Cats (San Francisco Giants)
After World Series hero Madison Bumgarner, this rotation’s best years are behind it. Ryan Vogelsong, Jake Peavy, Tim Hudson and Tim Lincecum are going to start games this season, so it’s a good thing the Giants have pitching depth close to the majors.
Ty Blach begins his first season at Triple-A and has proven to be a durable lefty who doesn’t beat himself with walks and has a 3.02 ERA through two minor league seasons. With his two fastballs, a cutter and sinker, he keeps hitters off balance and could fill in if one of the elder statesman mentioned above break down.
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The Giants’ bullpen has been a ballast for the team’s three World Series championships the past five seasons, and there is more ammunition on the way. Hunter Strickland helped with the playoff run last season after recovering from Tommy John surgery and strikes out a ton of hitters (12.8 K/9 innings pitched in 2014). So do lefty Steven Okert (12.1 K/9) and righty Cody Hall (9.9).
After them, catcher Andrew Susac and first baseman Adam Duvall project to be backup types. Susac is and will continue to be an effective backup for Buster Posey and Duvall is an inconsistent hitter, but he has the power to be a potent power option in pinch-hit situations.
Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks)
The opening day roster of this team isn’t nearly as exciting as it could’ve been. Nick Ahmed, Jake Lamb and Archie Bradley all made the big league roster and pitchers Braden Shipley and Aaron Blair were sent to Double-A because, well, who knows. Cuban pitcher Yoan Lopez was sent to Double-A, and if he responds well to the aggressive treatment, he may be in the majors as soon as next season.
The Diamondbacks stationed pitcher Robbie Ray in Reno. He has dealt with control problems (career 4.0 BB/9) and is a No. 5 starter at best, but more likely will land in the bullpen where he can match up with other teams’ left-handed bats. Jake Barrett has the mid-to-upper 90s fastball and biting slider to be an effective closer, but he needs to regain his 2012-2013 form. In 2014, his K/BB ratio plummeted to 1.74 from 4.92 in 2013. If he fixes that problem, he’s a legitimate closer candidate in 2016.
Fresno Grizzlies (Houston Astros)
The Astros are willing to put up with strikeouts more than any other club in baseball. Their two best hitting prospects in Fresno will fit right in. Outfielders Domingo Santana (28.8 K%) and Preston Tucker (20 K%) fit the mold of hitters who strike out, hit home runs and get on base. Tucker hit 24 home runs between two levels of the minors and Santana hit 16. Santana’s overall offensive production rebounded in 2014 when he hit .296/.384/.474 after a down 2013. Shortstop Nolan Fontana doesn’t whiff as much, and even though he’s only a career .253 hitter, he has a knack for getting on base—he has a career .427 OBP.
Brady Rodgers, a right-handed pitcher, doesn’t strike out a ton of hitters, but he has only walked 1.6 batters per nine innings pitched and he gets a lot of groundouts, as evidenced by his 1.60 groundout-to-flyout ratio. He would fit well into a spot starter or long relief role if he continues his impeccable control in 2015.
Max Stassi, a catcher who has dealt with injuries most of his professional career, is the last noteworthy player on this team. If he stays healthy all season, the Astros will get the best look at his offensive potential. If not, he’s destined for a backup catcher role.